Roller-skate.



f T. s. LE'ITGH.

I ROLLER SKATE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1907.

900,177. Patented 0013.6,1908.

WITNESSES: [NVENTOA 1 v a Alfomey To all whomit may concern:

UNITED sT TEs'PA ENT oFFIoE.

THOMAS S. LEITOH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ROLLER-SKATE.

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. Lnrron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and j useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlng. U V

TlllS invention relates to an mprovement in roller skates, and has for its object, the

provision of peculiarly constructed means for strengthening a footplate.

Another ob ect of the invention-is the improvement of the construction of a brace extending longitudinally of a skate, which brace will prevent the foot-plate from bending or buckling, under strain, while the skate is in use.

With these and other obj ectsin view, the

:invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations,1and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. 'f l 1 I i In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of a roller-skate constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the structure depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a brace constructed .in accordance with the presentv invention. Flg. 4 1s a vertical, sect onal view taken on line 4, 4, Fig.1. 1

Referring to the drawings byrefer'ence numerals, 1 designates, preferab1y',-a sheetmetal foot-plate, which is provided at its rear end with a vertical extension 2, provlded with apertures 3 for recelving ordinary heel-straps.

The hollow brace. 4. ,1. substantially ushaped intermediate its ends, see Fig. 4, and

at each end,-the sides of thebrace 4' are forced' together for producing I engaging, straight, vertical, parallel portions 5, 5. Near the center of the hollow or U-shaped brace 4, there are formed vertically-extending; lugs 6, 6, and near each end of the brace,

and uponthe parallelportions 5, 5,'"there are formed lugs 7,7. The lugs 7 at'each end of the brace constitute a single-lug, which extends through an aperture of the foot-plate 1, at 8. The central lugs 6 also extend through apertures near the center of the foot-plate. All the lugs 6 and 7 are upset after they have been positioned in their respective apertures of the foot-plate,'thereby.

V Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Application filed November 25,1907. Seria1No.403,745.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

forming heads upon the lugs or studs for preventing the brace from being detached or removed from the foot-plate, under ordinary conditions. Of course, it will be obvious that by filing ofi the head, the brace may be removed from the foot-plate, after the lugs have been upset. The closing of the sides of the brace together at its ends and spreading the integral body portion apart for forming "a hollow U-shaped structure, produces a very durable structure, as a great area of the under-face of the foot-plate is engaged by the brace which produces a broad bearing surface for the same, resting upon the brace,

which reinforces a comparatively large portion of the foot-plate, whereby the strain on the same is distributed upon the brace, thereby preventing a sheet-metal foot-plate from being bent or buckling or twisting, especially during the use of the same by an expert skater. At one end, and, preferably, near the front end of the brace, there is a substantially semi-circular cut-out portion or notch 8, while at the rear end, there is formed a notch or. cut-out portion 9, which notch or cut-out. portion. 9 is provided with an inclined face orwall 10 and a vertical, rear wall 11. It is to be'noted that these notches or cut-out portionsv 8" and 9 are formed in the engaging sides ofxthe brace, which engaging sldes constitute comparatively solid end-portions, greatly strengthening the entire structure.

Sheet metal truck brackets 12, are provided with substantially horizontal lugs 13,

iandtthese lugs 13 have rivets 14 extending therethrough, which rivets also extend through the foot-plate, thereby securing or attaching the truck -brackets to the same.

The truck-brackets are provided at their mary clamp-member 1 6, which is provided at its upper end with a right-angled extension 17 An auxiliary clamp-member 18 is provided at its upper end with a rightangled extension 19. Fixedly secured to the right-angled extension 19, is a short extension or shaft 20,wh1ch shaft extends through the r1ghtangled extension 1', and thereby secures the auxiliary member 18, at its upper end, to the primary member 16. A bolt 21 is threaded through the lower endof the primary member 16, and through the lower end or extension of the truck-bracket 12. A locking-nut 22 is threaded upon the bolt 21, between the primary and auxiliary clamp members 16 and 18, whereby the bolt 21 is securely fastened upon the truck, when the nut 22 is threaded tight against the under face of the primary member 16. It is to be noted that the lug or shaft 20 is mounted in bearing formed upon the extension 17 of the primary member 16.

Interposed between the two clamp-members 16 and 18, is a yielding member 23, preferably, a piece of rubber, which acts as a cushion; it will be obvious that any lateral strain upon the truck-brackets, or any sudden depression thereof will slightly depress the yielding blocks or members 23, which produces a cushion effect upon the axles 24. The axles 24 are, preferably, polygonal, and are provided with any ordinary type of ball bearing wheels 25. The axles 24 are, preferably, secured to the under face of the auxiliary members 18, by means of an axlebracket 26, which bracket is, preferably, provided with rivets extending through the same and the auxiliary clamp-member.

The primary clamp-members are provided with downwardly-extending side flanges 27, whereby lateral displacement of the rubber block or cushion 2-3 is prevented.

The toe-clamp comprises ordinary clampmembers 28, which are adjustably connected by means of a right and left threaded screw 29, which screw is provided at its center with a smooth portion 30, seated within the notch 8 of brace a. The brace at acts as a bridge for the screw-clamp 29, and as heretofore stated, owing to the peculiar construction and assembling of the brace with the other parts of the skate, a very durable and efficient structure is produced.

What I claim is:

1. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a strengthening brace substantially U-shaped in cross-section, extending longitudinally of and secured against said foot plate, truck brackets straddling said brace and secured to said foot-plate, and trucks secured to said truck-brackets.

2. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a hollow brace having upturned sides extending longitudinally of said foot plate and of substantially the same length as said plate, said brace provided with parallel end portions, said end portions provided with notches, truck-brackets secured to said plate and one of said brackets engaging one of the notches of said brace,

toe-clamps carried by said plate, an adjust ing screw connecting said clamps and mounted in the other notch of said brace, and trucks attached to said truck-brackets.

3. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a longitudinally-exteiidii1g brace engaging and secured to said plate, said brace provided with upturned parallel sides spaced apart near their center and closed together at their ends, truck-lnackets secured to said plate and straddling said brace and engaging the end portions thereof and trucks secured to said truck-brackets at. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a brace having upturned sides extending longitudinally thereof, said brace having its sides integrally connected and spaced apart near their center and with parallel engaging end portions, truck-brackets secured to said foot-plate and engaging said brace near its ends, and trucks secured to said brackets.

5. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a reinforcing brace having upturned sides secured to said foot-plate, said brace having its longitudinal edges engaging said foot-plate, said brace having its sides intermediate its ends spaced apart, and at its ends with engaging sides, truck-brackets secured to said foot-plate and engaging said brace, and trucks secured to said brackets.

6. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a longitudinally-extending brace secured to said foot-plate, said brace comprising a substantially U-shaped body provided at its ends with parallel engaging portions, said body provided with vertically extending lugs near its center and near its ends, the lugs at its center spaced apart and the lugs near its ends engaging, said lugs extending through said footplate, heads formed upon said lugs, trucks positioned contiguous to said foot-plate and brace, and means for securing said trucks to said footplate.

7. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a brace having upturned sides spaced apart near their center and closed together and engaging at their ends, means attaching said brace to said foot-plate and holding said engaging end portions to gether, trucks, and means securing said trucks to said foot-plate.

8. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a longitudinally-extending brace engaging said foot-plate, truck-brackets provided with notches, straddling said brace, the notched portions of said brackets extending upon opposite sides of said brace, and trucks secured to said brackets.

9. In a roller skate, the combination with a foot-plate, of a longitudinally-extending brace engaging and secured to said footplate, said brace provided with vertical sides spaced apart near their center and closed brace and engaging the end-portions'thereof,

and trucks secured to said truck-brackets.

10. In a roller skate, the combination with a horizontal foot-plate, of a longitudinallyextending brace engaging and secured to the under-face of said foot-plate, said brace provided with vertical sides spaced apart intermediate their ends and closed together at their ends, the portions of the sides closed together constituting a solid portion of the bracket, the upper longitudinal edges of the sides bearing against theunder-face of the horizontal foot-plate, truck-brackets engaging the brace and secured to the foot-plate, and trucks secured to said truck-brackets.

11. In a roller skate, the combination with a horizontal foot-plate, of a hollow strengthening-brace secured to the under-face of said foot-plate, said brace having its side portions pressed together near its ends and closing said brace, a truck-bracket secured to said foot-plate contiguous to said brace, and a truck secured to said bracket.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS S. LEITGH. Witnesses:

'Mms S. CoLsoN, REUBEN MILLER. 

